Bengaluru is positioned in the heart of South India, which makes it an ideal start-point for quick getaways. It's close to the fabulous East Coast Road, home to destinations like Mahabalipuram and Puducherry. So how about a little trip down the Bay of Bengal ?

Trip Type

Self Drive 365

Forget early wake-up calls, scheduled departures and the regular battery of sight-
seeing destinations. That’s because when you’re out on a self-drive holiday, you
decide where to go, what to see, and what to drive. And with Self-Drive 365, the
road, the destination and that palpable connect between man and machine is all
yours to explore!

Skill Level

Easy

Here's a road trip that is suited to those looking for a laid back drive, as well as veterans.

Is this road trip for me?

Here's a short trip for those who are fascinated by Tamil Nadu's Dravidian heritage and Puducherry's French flavours. The cherry on the icing here is of course the brilliant coastal and country roads that you will drive down.

Highlights

Carve corners while driving up the Nandi hills

Visit UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Shore Temple and the Pancha Rathas

Arrival transfer from airport / railway station to hotel in Bengaluru.

Overnight in Bengaluru

Transfers

Arrival transfer from airport / railway station to hotel in Bengaluru.

Welcome to your tour! Bengaluru, the first city on your eight-day long trip is India's Silicon Valley, the country's epicentre for tech start-ups, stand-up comedy, and the capital of the state of Karnataka. On arrival at the airport / railway station in Bengaluru, you will be escorted to your hotel.

Other Recommendation

You have the rest of the day free. Bengaluru has a reputation for being the beer-brewing hub of India. We suggest you get a taste of locally-brewed craft beers at Watsons, Windmills Craftworks, Toit, and/or Arbor Brewing Company.

Other Recommendation

Save the evening to experience Bengaluru's street food. You can sample Kannada favourites like chirottis and wafer-thin paper dosas at Eat Street (Old Market Road). Bengaluru being a multicultural metro, you'll never be far from a chaat stall, dishing out lip-smacking, tangy treats.

Day 3Bengaluru

Drive

Distance:350 Km

Breakfast

Drive from the hotel in Bengaluru to the hotel in Mahabalipuram.

Overnight in Mahabalipuram.

Transfers

Drive from the hotel in Bengaluru to the hotel in Mahabalipuram.

Your car will be delivered at your hotel. After a hearty breakfast, drive to Mahabalipuram. Your drive for the day is lined with temple-towns like Krishnagiri, Vellore and Kanchipuram. Noteworthy stops en route include the Krishnagiri Fort and Parshwa Padmavathi Jain Temple at Krishnagiri, Vellore Fort and Sri Lakshmi Narayani Temple at Vellore, and the ornate Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple and Varadaraja Perumal Temple at Kanchipuram. All attractions are on the route to Mahabalipuram or short detours at best. Additionally, this stretch is peppered with branches of the popular Saravana Bhavan, so clean, delicious, South Indian food is always at hand.

Day 4Mahabalipuram

Breakfast

Overnight in Mahabalipuram.

Other Recommendation

Mahabalipuram is a small town and its chief attractions are all huddled together. Among these, you should head first to the Tiger Cave, consisting of rock-cut Hindu temples constructed in the 7-8th century, and follow it with a visit to the Shore Temple and the Group Of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site overlooking the Bay of Bengal. We suggest you have lunch at Moonrakers, popular for its seafood fare, before you head to the next set of attractions. These include the Pancha Pandava Rathas, a set of five temples sculpted like the chariots of the five Pandava brothers; Krishna's Butter Ball: a giant granite boulder balanced on an incline; and Arjuna's Penance, where the story of the Mahabharata has been carved into rocks.
In the evening, you could visit the Naval Museum, the Mahamallipuram Lighthouse, stroll down the Mahabalipuram Beach, or even take a boat ride into the Muttukadu Backwaters.

Day 5Mahabalipuram

Drive

Distance:100 Km

Breakfast

Drive from the hotel in Mahabalipuram to the hotel in Puducherry, visiting Auroville and Aurobindo Ashram en route.

Overnight in Puducherry.

Activities

Drive from the hotel in Mahabalipuram to the hotel in Puducherry, visiting Auroville and Aurobindo Ashram en route.

Check out of your hotel in Mahabalipuram and continue southwards on the East Coast Road (ECR). Within an hour, you should hit Hotel Vasantha Bhavan, where you can make a pit-stop. Auroville, the experimental, meditation-centric union territory is a small detour from the coastal road. Head down to the township and take the afternoon to check out its tranquil setting. Follow that with a visit to the Aurobindo Ashram, the popular spiritual community that practices and preaches yogi Sri Aurobindo's 'integral yoga' practices.

Day 6Puducherry

Breakfast

Overnight in Puducherry.

Other Recommendation

Puducherry, the erstwhile French colony, is popular for its churches, most notable among these being the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, the Domas Church, and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, popular for its rare glass panels depicting the life of Jesus Christ. All the churches are within 1 km of each other.

Those looking to have some fun in the sea should head to Serenity Beach for surfing at the Kallialay Surf School. Else, you could head to the seafront promenade for a relaxed evening walk.

Keep an eye out for the numerous cafes that serve delicious French and South-Indian food. We recommend La Pasta World, Domus Cafe, Surguru Restaurant (South-Indian fair), Cafe des Arts (French food) and Le Club (multi-cuisine). Puducherry is particularly lively during Christmas, which is the best time to visit its pubs, notably Villa Shanti, Road Motopub, and L'e-Space.

Day 7Puducherry

Drive

Distance:330 Km

Breakfast

Drive from the hotel in Puducherry to the hotel in Bengaluru; en route, visit the Annamalaiyar Shiva Temple.

Overnight in Bengaluru.

Activities

Drive from the hotel in Puducherry to the hotel in Bengaluru; en route, visit the Annamalaiyar Shiva Temple.

The drive back to Bengaluru takes you via Tiruvannamalai, considered to be one of the holiest towns in Tamil Nadu. The one must-stop attraction here is the Annamalaiyar Shiva Temple, which can be easily spotted thanks to its sculpted towers that rise over 200 feet. The temple is located at the base of the Arunachala Range and is the eighth-largest temple complex in the world.
Follow NH77 to Krishnagiri, from where you can trace your way back to Bengaluru. Check into your hotel and settle in for the night.

Day 8Bengaluru

Breakfast

Drive from the hotel to the airport / railway station in Bengaluru.

Transfers

Drive from the hotel to the airport / railway station in Bengaluru.

Enjoy breakfast and check out of the hotel. Drive to the airport / railway station in Bengaluru for your onward journey.

Once you reach the airport / railway station, hand over the vehicle and take home experiences of a lifetime!

Mahabalipuram Day 5

Drive from the hotel in Mahabalipuram to the hotel in Puducherry, visiting Auroville and Aurobindo Ashram en route.

Check out of your hotel in Mahabalipuram and continue southwards on the East Coast Road (ECR). Within an hour, you should hit Hotel Vasantha Bhavan, where you can make a pit-stop. Auroville, the experimental, meditation-centric union territory is a small detour from the coastal road. Head down to the township and take the afternoon to check out its tranquil setting. Follow that with a visit to the Aurobindo Ashram, the popular spiritual community that practices and preaches yogi Sri Aurobindo's 'integral yoga' practices.

Included in trip

Puducherry Day 7

Drive from the hotel in Puducherry to the hotel in Bengaluru; en route, visit the Annamalaiyar Shiva Temple.

The drive back to Bengaluru takes you via Tiruvannamalai, considered to be one of the holiest towns in Tamil Nadu. The one must-stop attraction here is the Annamalaiyar Shiva Temple, which can be easily spotted thanks to its sculpted towers that rise over 200 feet. The temple is located at the base of the Arunachala Range and is the eighth-largest temple complex in the world.
Follow NH77 to Krishnagiri, from where you can trace your way back to Bengaluru. Check into your hotel and settle in for the night.

Included in trip

things-to-carry

Appropriate equipment is a component of a successful journey! Travel light, try to stay under 45 lbs (20 kg).